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Iloilo soon to have state-of-the-art convention center

Iloilo will soon have its own state-of the art convention center following the signing of the deed of donation between the Megaworld Corporation and Department of Tourism at the Marriot Hotel in Manila on November 13. The multi-million peso Iloilo Convention Center designed by Architect Willy Coscoluella will be funded out of the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon who envisioned the construction of this two-story edifice.

The convention center will rise on the 1.7 hectare lot donated by Megaworld Corporation at the Old Airport site in Mandurriao district of this city.

A statement from the Office of Senator Drilon said the construction of the project is expected to begin early next year and will be finished by the end of 2014.

“This is a realization of a lifelong dream of the residents of Panay Island to have their own highly impressive and sophisticated convention center at par with those of Cebu and Davao’s that will be capable to hold the best and the most glamorous of the conferences, exhibitions, among others,” Drilon said.

The construction of the convention center would put Iloilo a step closer to becoming a conference hub of Western Visayas and nearby regions.

The convention center designed to attract and accommodate large sized conferences, summits, fairs, and trade shows and exhibit will also boost Iloilo’s capability to host the Asia Pacific Economic Council meeting in the first quarter of 2015, said Drilon.

Drilon also said that the establishment of a convention center in Western Visayas will extend support to the country’s rapidly growing tourism industry especially that the present government has been continuously embarking on various efforts and campaign strategies to advance tourism in the country.

The Ilonggo Senator was joined by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Megaworld Corporation President Andrew Tan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid during the signing of the deed of donation. Iloilo City Representative Jerry Trenas and Iloilo City Mayor Patrick Mabilog were also present at the event. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)